HotWingAgenda:doglover: In ancient Athens, someone could potentially be voted into exile for a decade once a year. If they got 6000 votes against them from the people of Athens, away they were sent.

I vote we bring back the practice. If the community doesn't like you, away you go.

Wouldn't that just split America in half? The reasonable half and the crazy half would each vote the other out, and we'd just have Civil War II. And then the Canuckistanis would descend on the resulting power vacuum.

Yeah! Mob rule! The Simpson's fantasy come true. I got my pitchfork ready, citizen. But alas, it wouldn't work in practice because one side would just filibuster the vote.

johobe:Not that it makes any difference at all, but they have coined a new phrase for such parents. Rather than calling them helicopter parents, they now call them snowplow parents. Evidently, they don't just hover anymore, they now bulldoze away any obstacles in the pathway of their children.

doglover:iheartscotch: Any person? The politicians wouldn't last very long.

Don't be so sure.

6000 was based on the then population of Athens, not some magical number ex recto. Even the most hated politicians by one group are often beloved of another. Not to mention you have to vote for someone in your township. Even when I lived a stone's throw from Santorum's mother back in PA, he was never residing in the same township as me. It's a decent system and, with some basic rules and limitations, it could work in the US.

I also want to bring back judicial duels. Not for justice, but expedience. You're mad at me, I'm mad at you, let's kick the shysters to the curb and just have a good old fashioned sword fight. Much more decent way of life.

While bringing back duels SOUNDS like a fun idea, I recommend you read "By the Sword", which, among other things, examines the historic practice.

Basically, instead of asshole lawyers, you get assholes who are really good with a sword mucking things up.